The oceans are home to iconic marine megafauna, including majestic whales, ancient turtles, agile seals, and powerful sharks. These incredible water creatures sit at the very top of the ocean food webs, playing a crucial role in maintaining balanced and healthy marine ecosystems. But now, over 100 marine megafaunal species are facing mounting threats as increasing human pressure dramatically reshapes their home—the vast and fragile ocean environment.According to earth.com, recent research conducted by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the Australian National University (ANU) has carefully tracked the movements of these megafaunal species throughout the oceans to pinpoint the most important areas that require urgent and focused conservation efforts.
About marine megafaunal species
Marine megafauna are the giants of the ocean—large animals like whales, dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and giant rays. These creatures aren’t just beautiful and captivating; they’re essential. They play critical roles in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. Their presence supports biodiversity and helps oceans function as stable, resilient ecosystems.Sea creatures like whales help circulate nutrients by diving deep and then surfacing to breathe, effectively stirring the ocean layers. Sea turtles keep seagrass beds healthy by grazing.Despite their importance, these marine megafauna face mounting threats from human activity. Overfishing, ship strikes, entanglement in plastic waste, noise pollution, and habitat loss all harm marine animals. Many of these animals are long-lived and slow to reproduce, so their numbers can’t quickly bounce back once harmed. Climate change compounds these challenges by warming waters and disrupting migration and breeding patterns.
Efforts to protect endangered marine megafauna
According to reports, Sequeira in 2020 launched the MegaMove project, which aims to unite the marine movement ecology community to confront the urgent challenges facing ocean life.Sequeira said, “MegaMove brings together an international network of researchers to provide innovative research to advance the global conservation of marine megafauna.”She explained, “Our research shows that, in addition to protected areas, implementing mitigation strategies like changing fishing gear, using different lights in nets, and creating traffic schemes for ships will be key to alleviating current human pressure on these species.”
Hidden routes of the big ocean creatures
Currently, marine protected areas (MPAs) cover just eight percent of the world’s oceans. However, the UN High Seas Treaty aims to expand that coverage to 30 percent. This new study shows that while the 30 percent goal is important, it may not be enough. The research team tracked animal movements to find areas critical for feeding, breeding, and migration.“The impacts of a changing ocean on marine megafauna are already evident,” said Camrin Braun, assistant scientist and ocean ecologist at WHOI.“Our recent work tracking marine predators, including an earlier WHOI-led study, indicates that changes in the ocean are expected to fundamentally alter the status quo for where these species are and how they live.”
Getting ready for a changing ocean
The study connects closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 14, which focuses on life below water.By combining large-scale tracking data and coordinated international efforts, this research offers a clear path forward—a future where marine megafauna continue to thrive alongside a growing human presence on the seasAlso read | Astronomers discover high-altitude clouds darkening skies in YSES-1 system
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